The Chinese New Year: From Fear to Festivity
Last Modified: 29/01/2021
Chinese New Year celebrations originated from the legend of a beast that was scared of the color red, noise, and lights.
- 1Bright colors, spirited parades, and the pop of firecrackers,...
- 2...they're the unforgettable sights and sounds of the Spring Festival...
- 3...commonly known in the West as Chinese New Year.
- 4It's a celebration that lasts 15 days,...
- 5...the most colorful and important holiday on the Chinese calendar.
- 6The Chinese have been celebrating the New Year since 2,000 BC.
- 7But the origins of this now joyous holiday were born of fear and myth, not festivity.
- 8An ancient Chinese legend tells the story of the wild beast "Nian",...
- 9...who appeared each year at the end of winter attacking and killing villagers.
- 10To scare the beast away, they used the color red, loud noise, and bright light.
- 11The customs of Chinese New Year were born.
- 12"Nian" is also the Chinese word for "year".
- 13And much like a wild beast, the year was something to be feared...
- 14...as flood, famine, and sickness took many lives.
- 15On the New Year, families gathered for a reunion to see who had survived,...
- 16...and to wish the best for the year to come.
- 17Today, the tradition continues as families celebrate the New Year together.
- 18Throughout the centuries, Chinese New Year celebrations...
- 19...have been held at different times under different emperors.
- 20In 1911, the Republic of China was established under Sun Yat-sen.
- 21Soon after, the country adapted the foreign solar-based Gregorian calendar,...
- 22...establishing New Year celebrations for January 1st.
- 23During the political turmoil of the early 20th century, the Chinese government returned to its roots...
- 24...and reestablished the traditional lunar calendar to set the dates for holidays.
- 25Chinese New Year is celebrated at the beginning of the first month of the lunar calendar...
- 26...around late January; early February on the Western calendar.
- 27People crowd city streets, buying new clothes and shoes.
- 28They shop for the best firecrackers, and choose special ingredients for the festive meal.
- 29Red is the color of happiness and abundance.
- 30Auspicious symbols written on red paper...
- 31...hang in every store window and home to bring good fortune.
- 32Families enjoy the New Year's Eve feast with plate after plate of elaborate food,...
- 33...the most symbolic meal of the year.
- 34A whole fish stands for abundance,...
- 35...a chicken for good luck;...
- 36...both served with head and tail, symbolizing a good beginning and end for the coming year.
- 37After the meal, elders pass out small red envelopes called "hong bao".
- 38Each has a New Year greeting on the outside, and lucky money on the inside.
- 39On the first day of the New Year, people take to the streets,...
- 40...filling the day with the explosion of firecrackers.
- 41The celebration continues for two weeks with traditional ceremonies and days of rest.
- 42On the 15th day, the Lantern Festival arrives, signaling the end of the holiday.
- 43It's a tradition that can be traced back to 200 BC...
- 44...when the emperors of the Han dynasty lit their palace with lanterns...
- 45...to pay tribute to the universe.
- 46Today, the lanterns provide a glowing backdrop for a lively parade...
- 47...as lion dancers and beautiful dragons wind their way through the streets,...
- 48...warding off evil spirits and bringing good luck.
- 49A symbolic celebration comes to an end,...
- 50...but the promise of good fortune fills the air as the Chinese Year begins anew
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